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Calder signing a motivational move?

October 28th, 2009, 4:32 pm · 10 Comments · posted by Curtis Zupke, Staff writer

Coach Randy Carlyle was asked an interesting question in his media briefing Wednesday: calder

Could the signing of veteran forward Kyle Calder be a subtle message to the team that Calder could take one of their places if the Ducks’ poor start continues?

“I don’t know … Read into whatever you want,” Carlyle said. “The more players that you have in those positions, the more options you have as management and coaching staff.”

The feeling from Carlyle, though, was that Calder was brought on for depth as forward who can be called on from nearby Bakersfield of the East Coast Hockey League. 

A nine-year veteran with 576 games under his belt, Calder was a two-time 20 goal scorer with Chicago and bounced around to Philadelphia and Detroit before two disappointing seasons with the Kings.

He played well on a pro tryout agreement with the Ducks during training camp and wasn’t released until about week before the season opener.

Perhaps that’s why Carlyle said his players were asking him when Calder was going to show up.

Calder’s subsequent re-assignment to Bakersfield might have to do with him needing the conditioning, especially if he was called on to join the Ducks.

Calder is on a two-way deal that will pay him $500,000 if he plays in the NHL and $105,000 in the minors.

So, well, the suspicious among us might say that his signing portends a possible change to the roster, while the cynical among us might say that the fact Calder was still available speaks to the severity of both his situation and that of the Ducks.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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 10 Comments

  • backcheck says:
    October 28, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    Waive Andrew Ebbett and sign Kyle Calder. Not even Fantasy GM’s make that kind of move.

  • Alisa says:
    October 28, 2009 at 5:54 pm

    The best thing about Calder is that he is a natural left winger, something this team is sorely lacking

  • czhokej says:
    October 28, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    I am not very optimistic about this deal. Calder’s performance has been steadily declining last three years. We all know that we do not have enough left wingers, that’s why I was so mad when they traded Kunitz.
    Ebbett was very promising, similar size as Calder, faster, with good puck-handling. I think that our management has problems to recognize true talent, and cannot work well with promising players. We often fail to develop them up to their potential. I have seen Carlyle playing repeatedly underperforming veterans instead of young players with natural abilities, who just needed some more exposure and experience.

    • backcheck says:
      October 28, 2009 at 10:39 pm

      Coach is hard on kids eh cz? He called Bobby Ryan “Sh#thead” until last year. Young D who have come in are told to make the safe play rather than play their game.

      Mikkelson has proved he can be trusted. He makes great passes in the offensive zone. So why’s he still not permitted to use his speed and lug the biscuit up ice?

      Ryan Carter’s role has changed almost on a game by game basis. Remember his first callup to fill in for Pahlsson? He did an incredible job. Then he scored a couple goals and all of sudden we want him to score goals. Ryan Carter is and always been a fine checking line player. Our bad for trying to make something he’s not.

      I’m not ready to pull teh plug on Carlyle like you and some others cz. Give him another 10 games. If we’re still a mess at the 20 game make, I’ll sign on with ya bud.

      As for Bob Murray? No way. I think we need a coach who makes better use of the talent Murph has acquired. Kunitz & Tangredi for Whitney is a deal I make all day long. Pahlsson for the Big Wisniewski? Again, another good trade. He got us a great package for Moen & Huskins. He did well in the draft.

      Most of hockey thought Holmgren overpaid for Pronger.

      I’m totally with ya that our Ducks problems are behind the bench. I don’t think it goes upstairs though.

      • Randy says:
        October 29, 2009 at 8:22 am

        Well said Backcheck. Totally agree with your take on RC and his ability to best utilize young players.

        Let them play their game instead of drilling the “safe play” into their heads. He has continually handled the recycled vets vs. young talent that way. He always says he wants to put young players in a position where they can succeed, then he plays them 5 shitfs a game and sits them down because they are not producing. Bobby Ryan has succeeded (so far) despite how RC used him initially.

  • ASeg says:
    October 28, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    Want motivation? Sign a coach and assign him to the minors.

  • OsamaRosenberg says:
    October 28, 2009 at 8:01 pm

    Waiving Ebbett and signing Kyle Calder make no sense to me too. I was skeptical about our new GM since Kunitz for Whitney trade. Bob Murray more and more reminds me of Pierre Gauthier, the former Mighty Ducks GM in 1990th.

  • czhokej says:
    October 29, 2009 at 5:55 am

    I agree with most of your comment above, backcheck. I must say your evaluations and analysis are always deep. I am just angry, because I do not see any sophisticated game plan, any structured defensive system, no smart offensive strategy. What I see on the ice (for a long time now) is a lot of confusion, disorganized troops, miserable passes to covered players or to guys who are standing still, people not skating into open positions, etc. I think that we both could make a longer list. I strongly believe that a good coach can play a good game with less talented group, just by applying superior tactics.